The New Saints FC vCarmarthen Town AFC

Wood and Edwards strike as Saints Sink Old Gold

THE New Saints maintained a 100% start to the new season with the minimum of fuss in a 2-0 home win over Carmarthen Town.

But, until Aeron Edwards sealed the win with a superb 90th-minute shot, the result was always on a knife edge as the hosts missed chance after chance in the Park Hall sunshine.

Jamie Wood finally broke the deadlock just before half-time, steering his shot past the despairing dive of Old Gold keeper Neil Thomas after a good run down the right by full-back Danny Holmes.

Wood had earlier hit an upright after a superb surge into the box and Craig Williams hit the rebound high, wide and handsome. But Matthew Berkeley was the main culprit when just failing to convert a cross and missing a gaping goal mouth on 34 minutes after a clever Craig Jones stepover, both from Scott Ruscoe crosses.

Carmarthen's best chances in the first period fell to Mark Pritchard, who first skewed his shot wide of the far post and then skied over the bar with a reaction shot following a corner.

TNS continued to take the game to their opponents after the break with Berkeley beating three defenders before firing over the bar.
The striker was again high over the target with two 20-yarders and when sub Edwards got the ball in the net soon after coming off the bench, his effort was ruled-out for handball.

Unable to test TNS keeper Paul Harrison, the Old Gold resorted to long range shots, but the Saints were generally in the comfort zone and any nerves were settled in the final minute, when Edwards capped a fine cameo performance with a superb chip over keeper Thomas from wide on the right.